France has launched twin criminal investigations into alleged human trafficking and tax fraud linked to the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, marking one of the most significant legal developments in Europe to emerge from the newly released “Epstein files.
New French Investigations Announced
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau has opened two separate probes: one into suspected human trafficking for sexual exploitation and another into financial crimes including money laundering, corruption and tax fraud involving Epstein’s network and possible French accomplices. The move follows the release by the US Department of Justice of millions of pages of documents, flight logs, emails, photos and videos detailing Epstein’s activities, including frequent trips to Paris and his ownership of a luxury apartment near the Arc de Triomphe.
French authorities say a team of five specialized magistrates will analyze public records, media reports and complaints filed by child-protection and victims’ organizations to identify any French citizens who may have taken part in sexual or financial crimes tied to Epstein. Prosecutors have stressed that the work will be “monumental” and that there is no guarantee of charges, but they argue the scope of the new data justifies a fresh, wide‑ranging inquiry.
Focus on Human Trafficking Allegations
One of the new cases centers on suspected human trafficking for sexual exploitation, targeting alleged recruitment, transport and abuse of minors and young women in connection with Epstein’s network on French territory. Prosecutors have publicly appealed for potential French or Europe‑based victims who have not yet spoken out to contact investigators, saying increased media attention may encourage survivors to come forward.
Investigators are cross‑checking the US files with previous French complaints, including accounts from women who say they were approached via supposed modeling opportunities or high‑society circles. Rights group Innocence en Danger, which has long pushed for a deeper French investigation, notes that France is the only country outside the US where Epstein is known to have owned property, making Paris a key hub in the alleged trafficking network.
Tax Fraud and Money Laundering Line of Inquiry
The second probe targets suspected financial offenses such as aggravated tax fraud, laundering of fraud proceeds and broader corruption linked to Epstein’s offshore structures and payments. French financial crime prosecutors have already opened a preliminary investigation into former culture minister Jack Lang and his daughter, Caroline Lang, over alleged “aggravated tax fraud laundering” connected to funds traced to an offshore company in the US Virgin Islands.
Jack Lang, a prominent figure in socialist governments from the 1980s to the 2000s and until recently head of the Arab World Institute in Paris, resigned his post earlier this month after his name surfaced in the files. Prosecutors are examining whether he and his daughter received money from Epstein-linked entities and whether those funds were properly declared to French tax authorities.
Diplomatic Fallout and Political Pressure
The widening French probe also touches the diplomatic corps, with Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot announcing an internal investigation and disciplinary proceedings against diplomat Fabrice Aidan over alleged links to Epstein. Aidan appears in more than 200 DOJ documents, including emails sent to Epstein from personal and UN accounts, and is suspected of having passed UN documents to him, allegations that his lawyer firmly denies.
At the same time, French police have carried out searches at several sites in Paris, including the Arab World Institute, as part of the broader financial and trafficking inquiries. Commentators say the revelations are deepening public mistrust of political and diplomatic elites, increasing pressure on the government to demonstrate transparency and accountability in dealing with the fallout from the Epstein network.
European and Global Context
The French moves come as several European countries reassess their own legal exposure following the publication of the Epstein files, which detail contacts and alleged favors involving figures across politics, diplomacy and business. A group of independent experts at the UN Human Rights Council has even warned that the material may point to a “global criminal enterprise” whose abuses could rise to the level of crimes against humanity, underscoring the international stakes of the investigations.
For readers seeking deeper context on Epstein’s operations and the newly released documents, comprehensive timelines and legal analyses are available from outlets such as Reuters and the investigative coverage of Le Monde, as well as background explainers from the BBC. Legal experts say France’s dual focus on human trafficking and tax fraud could set an important precedent for how European jurisdictions tackle complex, cross‑border abuse scandals rooted in both sexual exploitation and opaque financial structures.
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